Grate-cleaning appliance



W. J. DRAY.

GRATE CLEANING APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1920.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR M///n"'//7 75/1765 Zirqy A TTORNE Y from being properly,consui'ned.

ticularly a-pplicableto boiler furnaces of the boilers orsteam-generators.

Patented Dec, 5, i922 iinirn WILLIAM JAMES EBAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GBATE-CLEANING nrrnrnncn.

Ap'olication filed AugustZO, 1920. Serial No, 404,861; A

which the following is a specification;

i'llhe present invention has reference ,to a

and partly in section, representing a practn' means for keeping thegrate-bars of a furnace clear of'ashes,clinlzers, and scoriaceous matterthat would clog the interstices therebetween and consequently preventthe fuel It is parmarine type,though it may be used with equal advantagein furnacesof stationary An important object of the invention istoprovide an appliance of the genus referred to, that can be adjusted as aunitrelatively to the grate to be cleaned, whether at the initialerection of the structure, or subsequently whenever the effectivenessthereof becomes impaired through continuous usage.

A further object is the provision of an ap pliance of the cla smentionedthe adjustment or readjustment whereof can be effected with convenienceand sullicient rapidity, v

As usual, a front head B and an outer shell by an ordinary furnaceattendant, without using tools of any sort or calling anybody else tohis assistance. f

Another object is to produce an appliance of the character set forthcarrying its own instrumentalities for adjusting and manipulating it,and thus affording a construction which is complete in itself, and forthat reason may be termed self-contained.

' Still another object is the production of an appliance of the naturedescribed wherein the operating means can be utilized as a lock formaintaining the parts in a given position, and mayalso be employedin'conjunction with some of the adjusting media to liberate theappliance from an abnormal condition. I

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part bebrought out more fully in the detailed description hereinaftercontained. I

pended.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction,parts,combinations and subcombinat ons of .elements herein specifiedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, and recited in the claimshereto ap- In the said drawings,, v Figure I is a top plan view, partlybroken calembodiment of the invention, appliedto a marine boilerfurnace;

Fig. His a longitudinal section ofthe broken as in the preceding figure;

F 1g; H1 is a front end elevation, showing the lower half ofthe boilershell, the fur rows.

same construction, the parts being also partly Referring now in detailto the drawings,

the reference letter A designates afurnace flue of well-knownconstruction, such as is ordinarily employed for water-boilers orsteam-generators of the type aforementioned.

O surround thisfiue. ,The front'end of the 'latter terminates with aneXtension'D, of the furnace containing a deadplate E, and at the rearend is a bridge wall F; The body of the flue may be formed withcorrugations, as-indicated at G.

to bear at their opposite ends upon supporting-bars I, set acrosstheinterior of the fine and secured to the sides thereof at theirrespective extremities. As shown, these grate bars may be formed withheads which serve to keep them at suitable intervals apart on the saidsupporting-bars, though they ad- ,mit of being held adjoining oneanother thereon in various other ways.

Qther parts pertaining to the furnace, its flue and grates. are omittedas having no particular bearing on the invention herein disclosed. Withregard to the known parts above named, it is understood that they aredevoid of novelty, considered by themselves, and therefore will beclaimed only as companion elements in the diverse combinations orsub-combinations set forth.

A vertically adjustable trackway is provided within the furnace line A,directly be low the grates H, and the same extends also forwardly at thesame level into the extension D. Preferably and as shown, this trackwayis composed of a pair of rails 1 and 2, that are parallel to the sidesof the fine and are united at their opposite extremities by transverselydisposed rods 3 and a forming therewith a frame-like structure.

The trackway aforesaid rests at the front and rear ends, respectively,upon brackets 7 and 8, or other terminal supports, adapted to receiveand engage the cross rods 3:an d l. The several brackets may consist ofsections of bar metal, set vertically within the extension D of thefurnace in front, and the flue A in rear. The front brackets 7 arepreferably bent inwardly and downwardly at their lower ends, asindicated by the reference numeral 9, and outwardly and upwardly attheir upper ends, as denoted by 10. These bends it will be noted, leavestraight portions in the brackets 7 to support the trackway, and furthersupply appropriate bearing parts against opposite points of theextension D, wherewith' to fasten them in place. The rear brackets 8, onthe other hand, may bear edgewise against the wall, l and be secured attheir lower extremities by bent portions 11 thereof, conforming to theincline of the bottom part of the flue, as clearly seen in Fig. TI.

Obliquely disposed notches 12 are provided in both the front and rearterminal brackets 7 and 8. These notches, it will be observed, havedownwardly extended, parts adapted to receive the rods 3 and 4 of thetrackway, and upwardly directed portions serving to hold the rodsagainst displacement therein. Consequently, the said notches constituteeffective retainers and stepped supports for the said rods and the railsunited thereby. A set or series of superposed notches 12 is cut intoeach one of the brackets, so that the trackway may be mounted atdifferent heights and inclines on the same.

Arranged to ride back and forth upon the rails 1 and 2, is a truck orcarrier comprising two pairs of wheels 15 and 16, respectively securedto the ends of axles 17 and 18.- As appears in section in Fig. IV, theseaxles grate-bars, that constitute the extremities of squared members 19and 20, which are connected together by longitudinally extending bars 21and 22, see also Fig. 11. These several parts compose the truck, whichis intended for re oiprocatory travel under the grate or series ofgrates H, previously mentioned.

By'preference, the above described truck is made somewhat longer thaneither of the grates shown in the drawings. In fact, it is the intentionto have a single truck of sufficient length to extend partly under theplural grates, irrespective of the number side to avoid rubbing againstthe latter,

as the said elements pass along the same when the truck is being movedin either direction onv the trackway. It will be noted that the frame ofthis truck and the teeth thereto attached constitute together aninverted rake, adapted to act through the grate-bars from the undersidethereof, and to agitate the fuel consumed and other matterthat may belying upon the same. The

reciprocation of the raking elements, it is understood, will operate toshake down the ashes that may have accumulated on the grate-bars, so asto clear the spaces between the same, as well as to break up clinkersand remove incombustible refuse that would otherwise adhere to thegrates and interfere with proper combustion. The plural grates aresimultaneously cleaned by the different rows of raking elements, owingto their peculiar disposition on opposite sides of the intermediatesupporting bars I, which is rendered possible by the surplus length ofthe truck, hereinbefore mentioned.

As the truck is placed in the lower part of. the flue A, andconsequently must be of less width than the centrally located gratesabove, the outermost raking elements cannot well be attached directly toit, and for that reason the latter-named elements, indicated by thereference characters 24 and 25 are instead made integral parts ofcrosspieces 28'and 29, carried by the nearest elements 24; and 25,pertaining to the same rows. The cross-pieces 28, 29 are made to extendoutwardly a sufficient distance beyond the sides of the truck-frame tobring the outermost elements24, 25 'into opera tive position relativelyto the corresponding is, those nearest to the sides of the flue.

llO

A. pole or bar 31 is provided as a means to opera e the aforesaid rake,in order to keep the grates clean,'in the manner recited. This pole ispivotally connected, as shown, to a hanger 32, depending from theforward member 19, of the truck-frame, and when at rest it may beallowed to lie across the front rod 3, of the trackway. A cross-piece33, at the outer end of the pole, afiords a convenient handle forpushing and pulling; it back and forth alternately, and therebycorrespondingly moving the truck and reciproeating the rake, for thepurpose intended.

The said pole 31 is also provided with a hook 35, which may projectdownwardly from the forward portion thereof, as indicated in Fig. II.The hook 35 is adapted to take over thefront rod 3, when the truck hasreached the limit of its travel in the rear end of the fiue, and throughengage- 11161111 with this rod, it will operate a stop or locking meansto maintain the truck stationary, after the grate-bars have been dulycleaned. Other media, of course, could be used besides the rod 3, toco-act with the hook 35,- and pole 31, in retaining the truck in anygiven position. In order to adjust the said rake relatively to thegrates, so that the teeth. thereof will project to the required l eightabove the surface of the adjoining grate-bars, the truck carrying it israised by elevating the trackway thereunder, on the terminal support-shereinbefore described. For convenience in efiecting the desiredadjustment without taking the grates out of the furnace, the trackway isequipped with a movable or shiftable fulcrum, consisting preferably of aprop 37, adapted to bear uPou the bottom of the flue A, and pivotallyconnected to a transverse rod 38, that joins the rails 1 and 2 together,centrally of the trackway. The rod 38 is provided. with a pair offlanges or guide-collars 39, 40, between which the head or upper end ofthe prop is pivoted, and the lower end of the latter is formed with afoot 41, broadened so as to bear fully upon one or two of thecorrugations G of the flue. Thus arranged,

the prop can be used as a lifting-jack in elevating the trackway,together with the truck and rake carried thereby, independ ently of theend supports 7 and 8. To do so, the front rod 3 is first disengaged fromthe pair of notches 12, which received it before in the manner indicatedfor instance in Fig. 11, by pushing the frame like structure rearwardlyinside ofthe flue, until the other rod 4- has slid further or deeperinto the notches in the brackets 8. After this has been done the forwardend of the traclo way is lifted high enough to cause the prop 37, whichis normally inclined and inactive, to gravitate to a substantiallyperpendicular position, that is, until the lower extremity thereofobtains a firm footing upon the coris depressed to swing rugation G ofthe flue, directly underneath. Next, the same forward end of thetraclzway the rails 1 and 2, with the transverse rod 38,upon the prop orfulcrum 37, and thus cause the rear rod l of the traclrway to becomedisengaged from its notches in the brackets 8, while the front rodreengages the notches in the brackets 7, that is, any pair thereinpositioned to receive the same. This rod, like the rear one, will thensink deeper into the notches engaged thereby than it did previously. The

two rods 3 8: a are not intended to be freed simultaneously from theirnotches, one remaining fully in, and the other being entirely out, whenthe shifting takes place. At such times as the proper or desired. levelhas been established for the tracliway, the said rods occupy thepositions thereof depicted by Fig. 11, wherein it is shown that theyreach about halfway down their respective notches. Now, it will beperceive-til that, by swinging or canting the traokway so as'to raiseand lower its opposite ends alternately in the same manner, either ofthe rods 3 and 4 can be brought into engagement with other notches 12,of the two series in the respective terminal brackets, and the relativeposition of the trackway, truck and rake, to the grates will be changedaccordingly, all with the aid ofthe movable fulcrum.

' l t may occur that the said fulcrum will become temporarily immovable,due for instance to some ashes or clinkers-impeding its capability tooscillate on the rod '38, to which it is pivotally connected. In orderto counteract this impediment, a drawing means is provided between. thefulcrum and the truck overlying it on the trackway. The means herereferred. to preferably consists of a chain 14, attached to the foot 41,of the prop 37, and thence running out of the flue forwardly. The chain4.4: is furnished with a book 46, which when not in use may be arrangedto take over the outer lower edge of the furnace extension D. If andwhenever the fulcrum becomes inactive, the hook 45 is caused to engagethe polehook 35, or is otherwise anchored to the truck. Now, as thetraclrway carrying the fulcrum remains normally stationary, it isobvious that by drawing the truck forwardly thereon, with the chain 44hooked to its pole ordraft-bar, the pivotal connection of the fulcrumwith the traclrway will immediately be loosened and the fulcrum itselfreleased for active operation.

It is to be understood that the invention herein disclosed is notlimited to the precise details of construction shown and described, norto any particular structural arrangement by which the same may becarried into practice, as numerous changes, alterations, ormodifications, may be effected therein Without materially departing fromhe fundamental principle of the invention or even sacrificing any of itsmain advantages. The right to make all such changes, alterations, ormodifications, is therefore reserved.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patentand clai ii. is

i. In grate cleaning appliance, a track adjustable toward or away fromthe grate, supporting means for said track rigidly maintaining thelatter in its adjusted positions either arallel with or at an angle tothe grate, a carrier mounted to travel upon the track, and rake'elementsmounted on said. carrier adapted to project between the bars of thegrate.

2. In a grate cleaning appliance, a plurality of supports arranged inspaced relation beneath the grate, each of said supports having a seriesof spaced notches therein, track, transverse rods associated with saidtrack adapted to rest in said notches, a carrier on the track, andral-Ie lements on carrier adapted to proect between the bars of thegrate.

3. in a grate cleaning appliance, a track disposed below the grate andadjustable toward or away from the latter, means at the ends of saidtrack for supporting it in various positions of adjustment, a prophingedly connected to the track beneath the same intermediate its ends,said prop being adapted to support the track free from said supportingmeans during adjustment thereof,

a carrier mounted on the track, and rake elements on said carriercapable of projectingg between the bars of the grate.

In a grate cleaning appliance, a plurality of supports disposed; beneaththe grate, each of said supports having a series of spaced notchestherein, said series extending at substantially right angles to thegrate, a track, rods secured to said track adapted to rest in saidnotches, a carrier mounted to travel on the track, and rake elements onsaid carrier capable of projecting between the bars of the grate.

5. A grate cleaning appliance comprising in combination, a device forclearing the grate bar spaces operable thereunder, a tracl: upon whichsaid device may be moved, a set of retainers adapted to support each endof said track at different elevations relatively to the grate, and acentrally located prop capable of being positioned to raise the trackand enable it to be shifted from a" retainer to another in the set byrocking the track upon the prop.

6. A grate cleaning appliance comprising in combination, a cleaningdevice for the grate bar spaces movable beneath the same, a track forsaid device adjustable in height relatively to the grate, terminalretainers adapted to hold the track at diil'erent elevations, a proppivotally attached to said track capable of raising it when movedthereunder, andfiexible means adapted to form a detachable connectionbetween the prop and the cleaning device.

WILLIAM JAMES DRAY.

